The leader of the company operating the world’s largest rocket factory in Alabama has stepped down after more than a decade at the helm.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno resigns after 12 years
United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno has resigned, according to a statement from Lockheed Martin Space, which co-owns ULA with Boeing. The company thanked Bruno for his leadership over the past 12 years and announced that ULA Chief Operating Officer John Elbon will serve as interim CEO as the company moves forward.
Decatur rocket plant transitions to Vulcan-only production
ULA operates a 2.2 million-square-foot rocket manufacturing facility in Decatur, which opened in 1999 and is considered the world’s largest of its kind. The plant is now transitioning to build only Vulcan rockets, ending production of Atlas V and Delta IV rockets. The final Atlas V rockets built in Decatur are still awaiting launch, Bruno said during a visit to the facility last fall.
Workforce growth and future national security missions
The Vulcan rocket is designed to carry heavier payloads, travel farther into space, and meet the needs of major customers, including the U.S. government. ULA and SpaceX both hold national security launch contracts, making Vulcan a key part of future missions. Over the past five years, the Decatur workforce has grown from about 600 employees to more than 1,000, reflecting the plant’s expanding role in U.S. space and defense efforts.
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